In a final act of defiance Mick Philpott smiled before making a series of
obscene gestures to his relatives as he was led away yesterday to start his
life sentence for killing six of his children.

Before then, the silence of the packed courtroom had been interrupted during
the sentencing only by the sobbing of his wife, Mairead, as she sat beside
him in the dock.

But as Philpott swaggered towards the cells there was an outpouring of emotion
at Nottingham Crown Court. His sister screamed “Die, Mick, die,” and another
woman shouted: “See you, Mairead. Hope you enjoy life